Clothes steaming and pressing machine.



No. 880,934. PATENTED MAR. 8, 1908. G. E. TARBOX.

CLOTHES STEAMING AND PRESSING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 28 1905.

Q/vi tn mow GONZELO E. TARBOX, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

CLOTHES STEAMING AND PRESSING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 3, 1908.

Application filed November 28, 1905. Serial No. 289,489.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, GoNzELo E. TARBOX,

a citizen of the United States, residing at' Spokane, in the county of Spokane, State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clothes Steaming and Pressing Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as 'will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has relation to machines for cleaning, sponging, and pressing articles of apparel, particularly coats, vests, trou sers, skirts and other articles of mens and womens wear.

It is the object ofthe invention to provide a machine for doing the work mentioned,

much of which has heretofore been done by' hand, and while doing the work by machine, or partially by machine to not only expedite the work, thereby accomplishing the same more economically, but doing it more uniformly and efliciently.

It is furthermore the object of the invention to produce a machine of the kind mentioned which shall be handy in use, so that a garment or article of apparel of a size and character within the operative capacity of the maehinemay be quickly and thoroughly sponged and pressed.

The details of construction will appear in the course of the following description, in which reference is had to the accom anying drawings forming a part of this speci cation,

like characters of reference designating similar parts throughout the several views, wherein Figure 1 is a pers ective view of the invention, the sponging oard being shown as in raised position. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the interior construction of the sponging board together with its adjuncts, t e outer plate thereof being removable; Fig. 3 is an end view of the machine showing the s onging board as closed down on the press board. Fig. 4 is a detailed sectional view with parts shown in elevation, illustrating the operative connections between the foot lever and the sponging board. Fig. 5 is a detailed transverse sectional view of the sponging board, parts being omitted, and s owing the cloth carried thereby. Fig. 6 is an elevation looking at one end of the machine and showing the manner of securing the sustaining arms to the sponging board.

Referring specifically to the accompanying drawings the numeral 1 designates an ordinary table upon which is a press board 2 of usual form. Upon the table 1 are upstanding bracket bearings 3 in which is journaled a rock shaft 4, the latter being provided with rigidly secured arms 5 which are fixed to the sponging board 6. The latter-is constituted essentially of a frame 7 corresponding in shape to the press board 2, a perforated distributing plate 8 and an imperforate plate 9, the latter being removably secured to the frame 7 by any suitable means not shown. The shaft 4 is connected at its end with a T joint 10 which is loosely engaged with said shaft and into one end of which leads a conductor 11 from a source of steam supply. A conductor 12 leads from the angular arm to the T joint 10 and is projected through the plate -9 as best indicated in Fig. 3. Within the sponging board the conductor 12 communicates with a steam coil 13 which terminates in a sprayin head 14 controlled by a suitable manualy operated valve 15. The steam circulating within the sponging board is'broken up by the plate 8 and passes both through said plate and through a cloth covering 16 having its edges disposed between the edges of the plate and the frame 7 and held by the fastening means for said plate as will be readily understood. Projecting from one side of the frame 7 is a pipe 17 inwhich is interposed a valve 18, the projecting stem 19 of which carries a weight 20. The pipe 17 leads from a groove 21 and in the use of the machine when the sponging board is in the raised position shown in Fig. 1 the water of condensation collects in the groove 21 from when it egresses by means of the pi e 17. The weight 20 serves to sustain the va ve 18 in open position when the spon ing board. is raised as in Fig. 1, and in cosed posi, paion when the sponging board is in use as in Imposed upon the plate 9 is a post 22 carrying a forwardly projecting lever 23 terminating in a looped handle 24, the said lever being formed at its rear end with an eye 25 surrounding the shaft 4', and beyond said.

eye with a rearward extension 26. Pivotally connected to the extension 26 is a depending rod 27 which carries adjacent its upper end a pivoted eye 28 with which is engaged one end of a retractile coil spring 29, the other end thereof being engaged with the floor or support as at 30. An upstanding bracket 31 is secured upon said floor or support and pivotally engaged with said bracket is the rear end portion of a lever 32, the front end of which is shaped as a pedal 33. lever 32 is formed at its rear end with a longitudinal slot 34, which is stepped as shown in 35. A retractile coil spring 36 has one end engaged with the rear end of said lever and its other end engaged with the floor or support. The rod 27 projects through the slot 34.

In use, steam is admitted to the interior of the sponging board and the latter is lowered manually to the operative position of Fig. 3.

In such movement the rod 27 is raised, and

by virtue of the connection of the sprin 29, said rod is engaged upon the step 0% the slot 34. The pressure may noWbe taken off of the lever 23 and the lever 32 depressed to sustain the parts in the operative position. A more powerful ressure 1s thussecured by means of the foot ever than could be secured by hand pressure on the handle 23 alone. The steam passing through the press cloth has the effect of cleansing the article being operated upon and raising the crushed nap,

- better than by common sponging, giving the garment or cloth theappearance of having had a new finish imparted thereto.

The.

combination with a press board, and a Incident to steaming or sponging and heating, the material under operation may be pressed as desired.

What is claimed is:

In a machine of the type set forth, the

sponging board mounted for rocking movement towards and away from said press board, of alever carried by said sponging board and having a rearward extension, a floor bracket, a foot lever pivoted adjacent its rear end to said floor bracket, and provided rearwardly of its pivot with a longi- GONZELO E. TARBOX.

- -Witnesses:

WILLARD T. HARTsoN, J. M. Moons. 

